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Auction Update Review

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Weekly Auction Update: 23 Auctions Archived, 29 More This Week

 For the week that ended Saturday 24 March 2018 23 auctions were archived to the Rare Book Hub Transaction Database; 8 denominated in euros, 4 in British pounds, and 11 in US dollars.  Turnover was $8,161,964 as 8,421 lots were offered and 6,447 sold for a 77% success rate.  The average lot brought $1,266.  The market is holding up even as uncertainty hovers over the United States and the world economy.

 

Twenty-nine new auctions are in the rooms this week.

 

2 auctions saw their total proceeds reach a million dollars: 

Bonhams. Fine Books and Manuscripts on March 21st: $2,216,767 
Sothebys. Made in Britain - Prints on March 20th: $1,005,991 

5 auctions saw total sales exceed 100% of the high estimates of all lots offered in the sale: 

Sothebys. Made in Britain - Prints on March 20th: 134.04% 
Forum Auctions. Fine Books and Works on Paper on March 22nd: 121.01% 
Bonhams. Fine Books and Manuscripts on March 21st: 116.27% 
John McInnis Auctioneers. March Estate Auction - Session 2 on March 17th: 113.37% 
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on March 20th: 101.87% 


16 sales saw at least 80% of their lots sell: 

San Rafael Auction Gallery. Spring Auction on March 17th: 100.00% 
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 3/11 on March 18th: 99.11% 
Heritage Auctions. Tuesday Internet Currency Auction - Internet bidstart 2/13 on March 20th: 98.87% 
John McInnis Auctioneers. March Estate Auction - Session 2 on March 17th: 98.84% 
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles - Internet bidstart 2/20 on March 18th: 97.66% 
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 3/11 on March 18th: 96.01% 
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper on March 17th: 93.82% 
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on March 20th: 90.14% 
Nye & Company Auctioneers. March Backyard Auction - Books, Prints on March 22nd: 88.10% 
Sothebys. Made in Britain - Prints on March 20th: 87.50% 
Bonhams. Fine Books and Manuscripts on March 21st: 86.91% 
Bruun Rasmussen. Books on March 20th: 84.75% 
Swann Galleries. Autographs on March 22nd: 83.78% 
Heritage Auctions. Texana on March 17th: 83.56% 
Forum Auctions. Fine Books and Works on Paper on March 22nd: 83.39% 
Marc van de Wiele Auctions. Spring Auction - Books and Prints - Session 2 on March 17th: 81.24% 

 

Top 25 Lots Reported This Past Week.
  1. Bonhams The Bell Jar by Victoria Lucas on March 21st Actual price: USD $123,375.
  2. Bonhams The Bell Jar by Victoria Lucas on March 21st Actual price: USD $105,750.
  3. Venator and Hanstein Darwin, Charles; Naturforscher (Shrewsbury 1809- 1882 Down House/Kent). on March 16th Actual price: USD $90,774.
  4. Bonhams Harmonia Macrocosmica seu atlas universalis et novus on March 21st Actual price: USD $79,313.
  5. Bonhams A collection of approximately 480 seventeenth and eighteenth century pamphlets (mostly in English) on March 21st Actual price: USD $74,025.
  6. Marc van de Wiele Auctions Hypnerotomachia Poliphili on March 17th Actual price: USD $67,650.
  7. Sothebys EX-POSITION (L. 46) on March 20th Actual price: USD $63,000.
  8. Bonhams Theatrum orbis terrarum on March 21st Actual price: USD $61,688.
  9. Bonhams Micrographia: or Some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies Made by Magnifying Glasses on March 21st Actual price: USD $56,400.
  10. Forum Auctions Choose Your Weapon (Cool Grey) on March 21st Actual price: USD $52,875.
  11. Bonhams The substantial collection of holiday travel journals on March 21st Actual price: USD $52,875.
  12. Sothebys GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN  on March 20th Actual price: USD $52,500.
  13. Sothebys LOVE RAT on March 20th Actual price: USD $52,500.
  14. Sothebys THE BLUE GUITAR (S.A.C. 199-218; MCA TOKYO 178-197) on March 20th Actual price: USD $49,000.
  15. Bonhams Sylvia Plath's Hermes 3000 typewriter on March 21st Actual price: USD $45,825.
  16. Venator and Hanstein COLOGNE CATHEDRAL 1985 on March 17th Actual price: USD $42,361.
  17. Venator and Hanstein Thesaurus rei herbarii hortensisque universalis ... on March 16th Actual price: USD $42,361.
  18. Sothebys (3D) BANKSY on March 20th Actual price: USD $42,000.
  19. Sothebys RUTH SMOKING. (C. 90-94) on March 20th Actual price: USD $42,000.
  20. Bonhams The Hawk in the Rain on March 21st Actual price: USD $40,538.
  21. Heritage Auctions [Civil War]. John Stayton Autograph Letter Signed on March 17th Actual price: USD $40,000.
  22. Bonhams Banks' Florilegium. A Publication in Thirty-Four Parts of Seven Hundred and Thirty-Eight Copperplate Engravings of Plants Collected on Captain James Cook's First Voyage Round the World in H.M.S. Endeavour on March 21st Actual price: USD $38,775.
  23. Forum Auctions Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone on March 22nd Actual price: USD $38,775.
  24. Sothebys PULP FICTION on March 20th Actual price: USD $38,500.
  25. Heritage Auctions Rare J.H. Dance and Brothers Confederate Dragoon Single Action Revolver, Found at the Dance Factory in Columbia, Texas. on March 17th Actual price: USD $37,500.



23 total sales reported this week:

Nye & Company Auctioneers. March Backyard Auction - Books, Prints on March 22nd: 88.10%
Forum Auctions. Fine Books and Works on Paper on March 22nd: 83.39%
Forum Auctions. Editions and Works on Paper on March 21st: 67.19%
Marc van de Wiele Auctions. Spring Auction - Books and Prints - Session 2 on March 17th: 81.24%
Marc van de Wiele Auctions. Spring Auction - Books and Prints - Session 1 on March 16th: 77.84%
Ader. Judaica on March 21st: 54.39%
Swann Galleries. Autographs on March 22nd: 83.78%
Bonhams. Fine Books and Manuscripts on March 21st: 86.91%
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Fine Art - Antique Engravings & Lithographs - Works on Paper on March 17th: 93.82%
Heritage Auctions. Tuesday Internet Currency Auction - Internet bidstart 2/13 on March 20th: 98.87%
Sothebys. Made in Britain - Prints on March 20th: 87.50%
Bruun Rasmussen. Books on March 20th: 84.75%
Bruun Rasmussen. Prints on March 20th: 90.14%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 3/11 on March 18th: 99.11%
Vermot de Pas. Comic Strips and Original Plates, Japanese Animation on March 17th: 64.38%
John McInnis Auctioneers. March Estate Auction - Session 2 on March 17th: 98.84%
San Rafael Auction Gallery. Spring Auction on March 17th: 100.00%
Venator and Hanstein. Books - Prints and Drawings - Autographs on March 16th: 32.47%
Venator and Hanstein. Modern and Contemporary Prints - Contemporary Books on March 17th: 54.92%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles - Internet bidstart 2/20 on March 18th: 97.66%
Heritage Auctions. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 3/11 on March 18th: 96.01%
Heritage Auctions. Texana on March 17th: 83.56%
AntiquarianAuctions.com. Rare Books - Internet bidstart 3/8 on March 15th: 43.39%

 

 

For the week ahead 29 sales are scheduled:

Mon. Mar. 26th
Stair Auctioneers and Appraisers. Hudson. Antonio Lopez: The Art of Fashion. 64 lots
Bruun Rasmussen. Copenhagen. Prints. 72 lots
Cowans Auctions. Cincinnati. American History - Online bidstart 3/15. 261 lots
Winter Associates. Plainville, CT . Books. 20 lots

Tue. Mar. 27th
Dorotheum . Vienna. Prints Before 1900. 130 lots
Sothebys. London. Prints and Multiples. 219 lots
Forum Auctions. London. Online Sale: Editions and Works on Paper. 95 lots
Ader. PARIS. Envelopes of Artists: Pierre-Stéphane Proust Collection. 279 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Tuesday Internet Currency Auction - Internet bidstart 3/20. 565 lots

Wed. Mar. 28th
Chiswick Auctions. London. Autographs and Memorabilia. 214 lots
Christies. London -South Kensington. Prints and Multiples. 216 lots
Freemans. Philadelphia. Rare Books, Maps and Manuscripts. 408 lots
Bonhams. London. Prints and Multiples. 312 lots
Old World Auctions. Glen Allen. Antique Maps, Globes, Charts, Atlases & Vintage Graphics - online bidstart 3/1421.
Artcurial. Paris. Prints and Illustrated Books. 179 lots
ALDE. Paris. The Life of an Amateur. 167 lots
Forum Auctions. London. Online Sale: Books and Works on Paper. 110 lots
Chiswick Auctions. London. The Warrens Library and a Fine Collection of Maps & Atlases.
Dirk Soulis Auctions. Lee's Summit . Live Ending Online Auction - Prints. 14 lots
Grays Auctioneers. Cleveland, . Fine Art - Prints. 83 lots

Thu. Mar. 29th
Swann Galleries. New York. Printed and Manuscript African Americana. 384 lots
Chiswick Auctions. London. Books from the Library of Giancarlo Beltrame, Part II.
Forum Auctions. London. Forum Auctions @ Artsy: Select Urban Editions. 40 lots
Ader. PARIS. Illustrated Modern Books: Dr. Yves Gogue Collection.

Sat. Mar. 31st
Arader Galleries. New York City. Audubon Prints, and Rare Books.
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books. Franklin. Fine Art - Engravings and Lithographs - Works on Paper. 150 lots

Sun. Apr. 1st
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Comics - bidstart 3/25.
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Sports Collectibles - Internet bidstart 3/4. 285 lots
Heritage Auctions. Dallas. Sunday Internet Movie Posters - bidstart 3/25.

Bruce McKinney

RBH and AE

  • Forum
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    Thursday 19th November
    Forum, Nov. 19: The ‘Saxe-Meiningen Psalter’, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum, [northern France or adjacent southern Netherlands, second half of the thirteenth century]. £30,000 - £50,000
    Forum, Nov. 19: Crescenzi (Bartolomeo). Nautica mediterranea, 2 parts in 1, second edition, with rare engraved folding map, Rome, Bartolomeo Bonfadino, 1607. £15,000 - £20,000
    Forum, Nov. 19: Aristotle. [The Works], 10 vol.,, translated by Thomas Taylor, Printed for the Translator... by Robert Wilks, 1807-12. £6,000-8,000
    Forum
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    Thursday 19th November
    Forum, Nov. 19: Turing (Alan).- Alan Turing's Slide Rule, engraved initials "A.M.T. Noli Hoc Furari", alongside other ephemera, housed in early 20th-century letter box, [mid.1920s-40s]. £6,000-8,000
    Forum, Nov. 19: Vitruvius Pollio (Marcus). I Dieci Libri dell'Architettura, translated by Daniele Barbaro, Venice, Francesco Marcolini, 1556. £7,000-10,000
    Forum, Nov. 19: Rowling (J.K.) Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, first edition, hardback issue, first printing, Bloomsbury, 1997. £50,000-70,000
    Forum
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    Thursday 19th November
    Forum, Nov. 19: Tolkien (J.R.R.) The Lord of the Rings, later impressions, each vol. signed by the author, London, George Allen & Unwin, 1957-58. £15,000-20,000
    Forum, Nov. 19: Gould (John). The Birds of Great Britain, 5 vol., first edition, [1862]-73; plus a presentation copy of Gould's Introduction to the Birds of Great Britain (6). £35,000-45,000
    Forum, Nov. 19: Galilei (Galileo). Istoria e Dimostrazioni intorno alle Macchie Solari e loro accidenti, comprese in tre lettere scritte all’illustrissimo signor Marco Velseri Linceo, first edition, Rome, 1613. £15,000-20,000
    Forum
    Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper
    Thursday 19th November
    Forum, Nov. 19: Gersdorff (Hans von). Feldtbuch der Wund-Arzney, enlarged edition, Strassburg, Hans Schotten, 1540. £20,000-30,000
    Forum, Nov. 19: Kitchin (Thomas). A New Universal Atlas, first edition with maps in full original hand-colouring, Printed and Published by Robert Laurie and James Whittle, 1796. £8,000-12,000
    Forum, Nov. 19: Cassas (Louis François). Voyage Pittoresque de la Syrie, de la Phenicie, de la Palestine, et de la Basse Egypte, 2 vol., first edition, [Paris], 1799. £10,000-15,000
  • Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 41. Rare First State of the First Printed Map Devoted to the Arctic (1595) Est. $14,000 - $17,000
    Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 63. The Largest of the Strada "Leo Belgicus" Editions (1632) Est. $3,250 - $4,000
    Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 71. Blaeu's Stunning Carte-a-Figures Map of the Americas (1640) Est. $4,000 - $4,750
    Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 8. Mariette's Rare and Decorative Map of the World Based on the Work of Hondius (1642) Est. $4,750 - $6,000
    Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 172. 1775 Edition of the Landmark Fry-Jefferson Map of Virginia and Maryland (1775) Est. $12,000 - $15,000
    Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 46. Doppelmayr's Fine Celestial Chart (1742) Est. $800 - $950
    Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 212. First Edition Ski Country Map by Pioneer Hal Shelton (1965) Est. $500 - $700
    Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 732. Ruscelli's Complete Atlas with 69 Maps and Updated Maps of the Continents (1599) Est. $8,000 - $9,500
    Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 329. Ortelius' Map of Iceland Surrounded by Sea Monsters (1585) Est. $11,000 - $13,000
    Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 600. Heinrich Bunting's Rare Map of Asia in the Form of a Pegasus (1581) Est. $3,000 - $3,750
    Old World Auctions (Nov 11): Lot 716. Bible Leaf with Hand-Colored Image of the Adoration of the Magi (1490) Est. $2,000 - $2,300
  • Ketterer Rare Books
    Auction November 23
    Ketterer, Nov. 23: L. Feininger, Collection of autograph letters to Alois J. Schardt, 1920-1955. Est: € 150,000-250,000
    Ketterer, Nov. 23: Flemish book of hours, Ghent-Bruges School around 1480-1500. Est: € 40,000
    Ketterer, Nov. 23: F. de Wit, Atlas maior, um 1700. Est: € 50,000
    Ketterer Rare Books
    Auction November 23
    Ketterer, Nov. 23: A. Stieglitz, Camera Work, 48 volumes, 1903-1914. Est: € 60,000
    Ketterer, Nov. 23: M. Merian & M. Zeiller, Sämtliche Topographien, 21 volumes, 1642-1736. Est: € 50,000
    Ketterer, Nov. 23: R. Indiana and R. Creely, Numbers, 1968. Est: € 4,000
    Ketterer Rare Books
    Auction November 23
    Ketterer, Nov. 23: Salerno Breviarium, Latin manuscript on vellum, North Italy around 1470-1476. Est: € 40,000
    Ketterer, Nov. 23: M. S. Merian, Surinaamsche (&) europische Insecten, 1730. Est: € 30,000
    Ketterer, Nov. 23: M. Beckmann, Jahrmarkt, Portfolio of 10 signed etchings, 1922. Est: € 25,000
    Ketterer Rare Books
    Auction November 23
    Ketterer, Nov. 23: Justinianus, Infortiatum, 1475. Est: € 10,000
    Ketterer, Nov. 23: B. Besler, Hortus Eystettensis, um 1750. Est: € 28,000
    Ketterer, Nov. 23: J. Gris and P. Reverdy, Au soleil du plafond, 1955. Est: € 3,000
  • Heritage, Nov. 18: Orson Welles. Signed Third Revised Final Draft for Citizen Kane (RKO, 1941). July 16, 1940.
    Heritage, Nov. 18: Bob Dylan. Autograph manuscript working lyrics to "Man on the Street."
    Heritage, Nov. 18: Ernest Hemingway. Death in the Afternoon. Inscribed by the author to the daughter of the Spanish Ambassador.
    Heritage, Nov. 18: Jack London. The Call of the Wild. Inscribed by the author.
    Heritage, Nov. 18: John Steinbeck. East of Eden. Inscribed by 27 members of the movie cast and crew, including James Dean and Elia Kazan.
  • Sotheby’s
    Nelson, His Life and His Navy:
    The Clive Richards Collection of Letters and Manuscripts
    November 18, 2026
    Sotheby’s
    Nelson, His Life and His Navy:
    The Clive Richards Collection of Letters and Manuscripts
    November 18, 2026
    Sotheby’s
    Nelson, His Life and His Navy:
    The Clive Richards Collection of Letters and Manuscripts
    November 18, 2026